The sheer randomness of the stages, stage transitions, enemies... everything! Escort missions in other games are never fun, and yet this game is nothing but an escort mission... and it's fun!
I particularly love the sheepmoticons. I will eventually unlock the secret stage, come hell or high water!
EDIT: Hot diggity, I made it! As expected, the secret stage turns everything into LCD graphics, but instead of replacing the next stage (or at least the second half of the current stage) it triggers instantly, lasts about half as long as a normal stage and spits you out right where you left off. It also includes a slew of unique hazards that may just cost you your whole flock. HOWEVER! Right before the end, it spawns TEN wandering sheep, in addition to the four or five that show up at random in every stage. If you're the completionist type and haven't yet picked up the "Herd 20 sheep at once" award, this would be the place to do it.
Once you're able to run the whole track in one sitting comfortably, you may notice a few new objects along the greatly increased frequency of hazards. They come in pairs and are thematically related. For England, click and hold the wad of paper and drop it in the bin. This is the only pair that nets an award, the others are just for points. Hardly a challenge by itself, but some may not want to risk not having their roar & bite abilities during those two seconds, give or take.
And speaking of points! In true acradey fashion, every 500,000 points obtained during a run will earn you an emergency sheep, to be airlifted in the moment you lose your last wooly refugee. Also, veteran sheep are distinguishable by an increasing number of accessories, the longer they trot along by your side unscathed. Beret-type hat, boots, corncob pipe, fanny pack, and finally, golden fleece. These upgrades are purely cosmetic.
And yes, there are more endgame performance evaluations than Extinct. So far, I've managed Dreadful and Cautious. I haven't the faintest idea what kind of absurd standards the game's creators hold us to.
EDIT2: Oh goodness what have we here? Semi-hidden unlockables! I haven't the faintest when these were added to the options menu, but "Posh Dino" gives Allie a tophat, monocle and little handlebar mustache. This is reflected in the TIGER version as well - in fact, roaring adds a little 'I SAY!' by his mouth. Clever! "Sitcomosaurus" on the other hand, adds a laugh track to every death, and cheers/applause to every stage transition and "Lucky!" sheep save. Better to invite one or more real friends to play this game and/or laugh at the shear absurdity of it all.
In addition to strategically arranged groups of grass, tiny clovers appear at random and are worth 777 points each. A bunch are likely to show up at a stage transition with a full flock. These are for the sheep to pick up, not you! And a final note that should have been clearer earlier, 20 is the maximum flock size. They get all sparkly and random grazing sheep stop appearing until one of the current flock is lost.
|